Letter from Charles Sheldon to Dr. C. Hart Merriam

58 N. Main St. Rutlgnd, Vt.
June 17, 1911
Dear Dr. Merriam:
I am again much indebted to you for going over my last
chapter. But I had expectd you to jump on my remark v/ith heavier
feet. The proof for it has laready come in and for that reason I left in the discussion of Thayers theories with some amendments to show thrt from my point of view, the variation in sheep colors is not caused by protective coloration selection.
Lynx lying in wait—Of course you are correct and I have corrected it to show that this is but an incident of stalking by stealth. Migration. I have added to show that an irregular migration of sheep continually occurs owing to overcrowding of their ranges.
" "amlng" and "directive" marking—I meant waving in the sense of a signal flag of danger, but have —As for the others
I enclose my amended remarks which contain my belief in the matter.
I hope it is clearly expressed.
%
At your suggestion I have left out all I say about climate and environment in the bottom of page 18 and 2 lines on 19. I had thought that these remarks would be an answer to positive assertions that were latitude caused color variations.
MArea and region". I have discriminated--As to subdividing area D in the map I have not enough facts to do it. I have only seen sheep from Sheslev river, and the area north of Dean Lake (about midway between Shesley and the Pelley Mts.. The colors of all are so similar to the Pelley Mt. sheep that I can find no point where a division can be made. The same is true of the Ogilvie Rockes.
I note some of your remarks written on the manuscript!
Djo sheen cross the ~rukon River? I know positively that Ln winter sheep cross the Pelley. It is quite possible that they cross the Yukon below Eagle in winter. I have no facts to show that sheep swim, though I Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
am familiar to their indifference to crossing the swift glacial streams, almost deep enough fof swimming, I have often seen them do it near McKinley. I have not declared positively that they do cross the Yukon, but it is possible.
Wolverine attacking; moose. I believe this to be a fact. It was observed by Joseph Keele and he reported it in the Forest and Stream two years agpj when he was in N. Y. both Grinnell and I dfescussed it with him and we were convinced it was a fact. I have added a foot note of reference to F. and S.
I say all sheep of Alaska are white and you ask about Lake Bennett. But Lake ^ennett is in Yukon Territory and this area is
covered by my remarks slightly further in.
As to sheep resting in winter. I have added that they only move and feed during the daylight hours.
I regret that Scribners will not allow me to put In cuts
of the various sheep where they are mentioned In the narrative. Therefore I can only refer by foot note to the plate containing all which will be Jgound opposite the map in Chap. XX.
I am very sorry to learn about Bailey and hope he is bet'er. Also had news comes from uelson that he cannot go to Ne foundland because of a cold. If you come to any conclusions on the grizzlies of Interior Alaska and vukon Territory I should like to know the scientific names, so I can so designate the terms I use for the Ogilvle bear and the MacMillan bear, and the bear in the inside of the coast ranges.
I hope that you will all have the finest kind of a time in
California. Mrs. S. sends love.
Sincerely,
(signed) C. Sheldon.
The white rump patch on sheep has een called a directive marking as it enables the members of a band quickly to recognise one another under varied conditions. It Is undoubtedly true that sheep Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
June 17, 1911.
take advantage of this recognition mark, just as they take advantage of their color under conditions when it is protective. But we cannot believe that this recognition mark in the dark northern sheep has been developed $>y a process of natural selection favoring those which possess the white rump patch, since a vast majority of the sheep, being white, do not have it. Such a process of natural selection would not act t ‘ a- • " • “ ry color marks.
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.

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Transcript

58 N. Main St. Rutlgnd, Vt.
June 17, 1911
Dear Dr. Merriam:
I am again much indebted to you for going over my last
chapter. But I had expectd you to jump on my remark v/ith heavier
feet. The proof for it has laready come in and for that reason I left in the discussion of Thayers theories with some amendments to show thrt from my point of view, the variation in sheep colors is not caused by protective coloration selection.
Lynx lying in wait—Of course you are correct and I have corrected it to show that this is but an incident of stalking by stealth. Migration. I have added to show that an irregular migration of sheep continually occurs owing to overcrowding of their ranges.
" "amlng" and "directive" marking—I meant waving in the sense of a signal flag of danger, but have —As for the others
I enclose my amended remarks which contain my belief in the matter.
I hope it is clearly expressed.
%
At your suggestion I have left out all I say about climate and environment in the bottom of page 18 and 2 lines on 19. I had thought that these remarks would be an answer to positive assertions that were latitude caused color variations.
MArea and region". I have discriminated--As to subdividing area D in the map I have not enough facts to do it. I have only seen sheep from Sheslev river, and the area north of Dean Lake (about midway between Shesley and the Pelley Mts.. The colors of all are so similar to the Pelley Mt. sheep that I can find no point where a division can be made. The same is true of the Ogilvie Rockes.
I note some of your remarks written on the manuscript!
Djo sheen cross the ~rukon River? I know positively that Ln winter sheep cross the Pelley. It is quite possible that they cross the Yukon below Eagle in winter. I have no facts to show that sheep swim, though I Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
am familiar to their indifference to crossing the swift glacial streams, almost deep enough fof swimming, I have often seen them do it near McKinley. I have not declared positively that they do cross the Yukon, but it is possible.
Wolverine attacking; moose. I believe this to be a fact. It was observed by Joseph Keele and he reported it in the Forest and Stream two years agpj when he was in N. Y. both Grinnell and I dfescussed it with him and we were convinced it was a fact. I have added a foot note of reference to F. and S.
I say all sheep of Alaska are white and you ask about Lake Bennett. But Lake ^ennett is in Yukon Territory and this area is
covered by my remarks slightly further in.
As to sheep resting in winter. I have added that they only move and feed during the daylight hours.
I regret that Scribners will not allow me to put In cuts
of the various sheep where they are mentioned In the narrative. Therefore I can only refer by foot note to the plate containing all which will be Jgound opposite the map in Chap. XX.
I am very sorry to learn about Bailey and hope he is bet'er. Also had news comes from uelson that he cannot go to Ne foundland because of a cold. If you come to any conclusions on the grizzlies of Interior Alaska and vukon Territory I should like to know the scientific names, so I can so designate the terms I use for the Ogilvle bear and the MacMillan bear, and the bear in the inside of the coast ranges.
I hope that you will all have the finest kind of a time in
California. Mrs. S. sends love.
Sincerely,
(signed) C. Sheldon.
The white rump patch on sheep has een called a directive marking as it enables the members of a band quickly to recognise one another under varied conditions. It Is undoubtedly true that sheep Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.
June 17, 1911.
take advantage of this recognition mark, just as they take advantage of their color under conditions when it is protective. But we cannot believe that this recognition mark in the dark northern sheep has been developed $>y a process of natural selection favoring those which possess the white rump patch, since a vast majority of the sheep, being white, do not have it. Such a process of natural selection would not act t ‘ a- • " • “ ry color marks.
Boone and Crockett Club Records (Mss 738), Archives and Special Collections. Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library. University of Montana-Missoula.